Food and Dining Briefs for April 8

Karl Strauss celebrates 21:
San Diego's Karl
Strauss Brewing Co. is celebrating its 21st birthday with its 21st
Anniversary Ale, a Belgian ale brewed with the juice of old vine
zinfandel grapes. The 10.2 percent ABV ale will be on tap at select
beer bars and on sale in 22-ounce bottles; go to
karlstrauss.com.

Wednesdays at Tango:
Tango Restaurant &
Lounge at 417 W. Grand Ave. in Escondido has introduced Wing &
Well Wednesdays. The special features $4 you-call-it well drinks
and $3 half-dozen baskets of wings. The wings come with a choice of
sauce: buffalo, hot, buffalo garlic or zesty Asian. Wing & Well
Wednesdays are in the lounge from 4 p.m. to close; go to
tangoongrand.com or call 760-747-5000.

Lou & Mickey's adds raw bar:
Lou &
Mickey's steakhouse in the Gaslamp Quarter has added a raw bar,
offering a variety of oysters as well as chilled seafood items,
such as sea urchin, Dungeness crab and hard-shell American lobster.
The raw bar just added three shellfish platter: "The Grand" ($35;
serves 1 to 2), "The Deluxe" ($70; serves 3 to 4) and "The King"
($135; serves 5 to 8); the platters offer oysters, clams, king
crab, shrimp, mussels, lobster, dungeness crab and sea urchin. Go
to www.louandmickeys.com.

Free for children:
From 4 to 10 p.m. through
April 30, children can eat free at IHOP restaurants with the
purchase of an adult entree purchase through the chain's "Kids Eat
Free" dinner promotion. Go to ihop.com.

Orfila barrel room opens:
Orfila Vineyards
& Winery in Escondido recently opened its barrel room, which
can hold up to 100 people among a collection of oak barrels
containing aging wine. Orfila is at 13455 San Pasqual Road; go to
orfila.com or call 760-738-6500, ext. 24.

Benihana April special:
Throughout April,
Benihana restaurants are offering a chef's special of Hibachi Steak
for Two for $37, with Benihana onion soup, salad, a hibachi shrimp
appetizer, hibachi vegetables, dipping sauces, steamed rice and
Japanese hot green tea. Benihana also has three featured drinks
this month ---- Cherry Breeze, Sakura Saketini and White Peach Sake
Sangria. Go to benihana.com.

At-home cooking:
A new at-home cooking school
is available at chefztable.com, which allows visitors to find
professional and certified chefs in their area based on a ZIP code
search. Visitors can cook one-on-one with chefs or host a cooking
class party; chefs arrive with groceries and utensils, and they
clean up after themselves. Go to chefztable.com.

Benihana art contest
: Through May 5, Benihana
restaurants will host its "Children Helping Children" program, in
which children can submit a work of art and Benihana will donate $1
to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for each piece. Each child
will also be entered in a drawing for dinner for eight at Benihana.
Also, on May 5, all proceeds for purchased children's meals will go
to St. Jude. Go to benihana.com.

Lobster at King's:
Maine lobster season will
bring specials to King's Fish House restaurants May 1 through July
4. In those months, King's will offer Lobster Bisque, Lobster
Oscar, New England Lobster Roll and whole live lobsters in nine
sizes (and three preparations ---- steamed, stuffed and clam
baked). King's has a location in Carlsbad; go to
www.kingsfishhouse.com.

Suite & Tender launches nightly specials:
The downtown San Diego restaurant is offering new specials every
night. On Sundays, bottles of wine under $90 are half-price; on
Mondays, hospitality industry workers get 25 percent (with ID);
free valet service is available on Tuesdays; corkage fees are
waived on Wednesdays (up to three bottles, local ID required);
residents in the 92101 ZIP code get 25 percent off on Thursdays;
and on Fridays and Saturdays, a $30 three-course menu is offered
from 9 p.m. to close. The three-course, $30 menu is also offered
mid-week. Visit suiteandtender.com.

New at Twenty/20:
Twenty/20 Grill & Wine
Bar in Carlsbad has several new offerings, from tapas to local
flavors to special menus. Tapas Thursdays returned April 1, with
items between $2 and $10 and special wines for $5 for glass.
Twenty/20 will offer Prix-Fixe Fridays, with a three-course menu
based on local ingredients for $30 each Friday. Also, the
restaurant will offer winemaker dinners the second Wednesday of
each month. Go to twenty20grill.com or call 760-827-2400.

Kids eat free:
Through Memorial Day, children
ages 12 and younger eat free (with the purchase of an adult entree)
at Loews Coronado Bay Resort to celebrate the hotel being ranked
among the top 10 "Best Family Beach Vacations" by Parents magazine.
Go to loewshotels.com.

Pintail ale makes debut:
Karl Strauss Brewing
Co. has released its seasonal Pintail Pale Ale as it has for the
past nine years, but this year, it's available in bottles. The 5.3
percent ABV American pale ale, with pine and citrus flavors, is
available in six-packs at Karl Strauss restaurants and select beer
bars. Go to karlstrauss.com or call 858-273-2739.

Dining events

Grand prix fixe:
To celebrate the fourth annual
Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling, Harbor Grill in Dana Point will
offer a Grand Prix Fixe Menu from Friday through Sunday. For every
prix-fixe meal ordered, Harbor Grill will donate $2 to charities
supported by the Grand Prix. The lunch is $23, and the dinner is
$33; diners can choose from items including Shredded Pork Tacos
With Tomatillo Avocado Salsa And Pickled Onions, Chilled Gazpacho,
Grilled Mahi Mahi (with Caribbean Spice Rub And Tequila Tomato
Salsa or Mango Chutney Barbecue Baste) and Bread Pudding With
Kentucky Bourbon Sauce. Go to harborgrill.com or call
949-240-1416.

Taste of Julian:
Julian will host its second
annual Taste of Julian from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, which allows
guests to sample restaurants in the town and surrounding area.
Tickets are $20 in advance, and 50 first-come, first-served tickets
will be available at Town Hall the day of the event. Proceeds
benefit the Julian Merchants Association; go to julianmerchants.org
or call 760-765-4758.

Connoisseur Series:
1500 OCEAN at the Hotel del
Coronado will host "Connoisseur Series" wine dinners following its
ENO-Versity classes beginning Saturday with Skylark Wine Co. Guests
will be able to chat with the winemaker while enjoying food from
Chef de Cuisine Brian Sinnott. The dinner is $65; go to
hoteldel.com or call 619-522-8546.

Oyster, vodka pairing:
Pacifica Del Mar, which
is launching a raw bar in April, will host an oyster and vodka
pairing at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Guests receive a shooter and three
different oysters on the half-shell, each paired with a champagne,
beer or vodka. The pairing is $25; go to pacificadelmar.com or call
858-792-0476.

Disney's California Food & Wine Festival:
The Anaheim theme park hosts television chefs Guy Fieri and Cat
Cora at its annual parkwide festival of arts and flavors, running
April 16 through May 31 in and around the park. Events include a
Taste of California marketplace, live culinary demonstrations and
autograph sessions; a "Food-Wine-Life" gala on May 29; Sunday
gourmet breakfasts; winemaker dinners; cooking classes at the Napa
Rose restaurant; wine-tasting classes; and much more. Find a full
schedule at disneyland.com/foodandwine.

Rhythm & Vine Music & Wine Festival:
Tickets for the second annual festival benefiting the Boys &
Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego, are now on sale. The April 17
event will feature 60 wineries, 35 local chefs, gourmet food and
live music by John Torres, Atomic Groove and Crossroads. Rhythm
& Vine will be at Westfield North County, and tickets are $75
for general admission in advance ($100 at the door) and $125 for
VIP tickets ($150 at the door). Designated driver tickets are $40
in advance and $90 at the door; go to www.rhythmandvine.org or call
858-578-9463.

Meet the Chefs of Del Mar:
Casa de Amparo hosts
its 14th annual gala tastings event, where executive chefs at local
restaurants will prepare samples from their menu and a wine and
silent auction will be held, from 1 to 4 p.m. April 18 at the
Hilton Del Mar, 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Tickets are
$50-$185. Visit casadeamparo.org.

Poke festival:
Bali Hai Restaurant in San Diego
will host a Musubi Map Poke Festival and Competition at 6 p.m.
April 20 at 2230 Shelter Island Drive. Guests can sample poke from
20 chefs competing for "Best Poke"; 15 other restaurants will offer
food, and the event will have music, entertainment and art. General
admission is $35 in advance and $40 at the door (VIP tickets also
available for $85 in advance and $100 at the door; VIPs will sample
poke from a second category called "Surprise Me."). Go to
www.ilovemusubi.com.

Tequila Tasting:
Hacienda de Vega in Escondido
will host a "House of Don Julio Tequila Tasting & Education
Dinner" at 6 p.m. April 22 for $45 per person. The limited event in
collaboration with Don Julio Tequila will teach attendees all about
tequila while pairing tastings with Hacienda de Vega menu items. Go
to haciendadevega.com or call 760-738-9804.

Amaya wine dinner:
Amaya restaurant at The
Grand Del Mar will host a four-course Lewis Cellars Wine Dinner at
5:30 p.m. April 23 for $70 per person. Courses include seared diver
scallop and foie gras with sweet corn puree and huckleberry sauce
and Colorado lamb three ways. Go to thegranddelmar.com or call
858-314-1988.

Taste of the Triangle:
More than 20 San Diego
County restaurants and spas will participate in this gourmet
tastings event from 7 to 11 p.m. April 23 at the Hilton La Jolla
Torrey Pines, 10950 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla. Chefs include
Brook and Tom Feerick of Cal-A-Vie Health Spa in Vista, Paul McCabe
of Kitchen 1540 in Del Mar and Bernard Guillas of Marine Room in La
Jolla. Other participants include Leucadia Pizzeria, Donovan's,
Pacifica Del Mar, Torreyana Grill and Zocalo. Tickets are $75 in
advance, $85 at the door. There will be live and silent auctions,
roving magicians, a DJ and other entertainment. Proceeds will
benefit University City schools. 858-677-0989 or
www.uc-educate.org.

"Eat. Drink. Read":
The San Diego Council on
Literacy hosts a tasting event featuring chefs from 20 San Diego
restaurants from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 28 at the Marine Room in
La Jolla. Chefs from the Marine Room, Urban Solace, Starlite, Suite
& Tender and more will prepare appetizers, which will be served
with beer and wine. A silent auction is also planned. Tickets are
$60, which benefit local literacy programs. Visit
www.eatdrinkread.com.

Tower After Hours:
The Museum of Man in Balboa
Park will host "Tower After Hours: India" from 6 to 8 p.m. April
29. After the museum closes, it will host the event to celebrate
India, featuring curries, dancing and music from Apurna Pie.
Tickets are $20, or $15 for military. Tower After Hours was started
in 2004 to celebrate the cultures in San Diego; go to
museumofman.org or call 619-239-2001.

BBQ in the vineyards:
Lorimar Vineyards &
Winery will hold its Kansas City BBQ, Wine & Blues event from 3
to 8 p.m. May 1; cost is $85 for adults, $75 for wine club members
and $55 for children ages 12 and under. With blues music playing,
attendees can enjoy tri-tip, ribs and chicken, salads, side dishes
and desserts. There will also be a wine bar with new wines and
more. Go to lorimarwinery.com or call 951-240-5177.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo:
The Westgate Hotel in
San Diego will host a Mexican Dinner Buffet, with champagne
reception and a dinner show, starting at 6 p.m. May 5 to celebrate
Cinco de Mayo at the Riviera Fountain Terrace. The buffet is $52;
go to westgatehotel.com or call 619-557-3655.

Mama's Day 2010:
The 19th annual tastings event
returns from 6:30-9:30 p.m. May 7 at the La Jolla Aventine hotel.
The event features food stations hosted by more than 70 San Diego
County restaurants and chefs, a silent auction, prize drawings and
live music. Proceeds benefit Mama's Kitchen, which delivers hot
meals to adults and children with HIV/AIDS and cancer throughout
San Diego County. Tickets are $125 in advance, $150 at the door
($250 VIP ticket includes pre-event reception and other
privileges). Visit mamaskitchen.org.

Chocolate Festival:
San Diego Botanic Garden
hosts its annual chocolate celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 8
at 230 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. Chocolatiers will offer
tastings, demonstrations and a chocolate fountain, and there will
be activities for children. Festival is free with garden admission
($6-$12) plus tasting fees for chocolates. Call 760-436-3036.

Food and wine collaboration:
Addison at The
Grand Del Mar resort will host a six-course Grand Food & Wine
Collaboration at 5:30 p.m. May 11 for $125 per person. The resort's
chefs will team with Wine Director Jesse Rodriguez, Napa Valley
winemaker Viader and Summerland Winery for a food-and-wine feast.
Go to granddelmar.com or call 858-314-1988.

Salsa-making contest:
The Carlsbad Parks &
Recreation department is seeking salsa cooks for a salsa-making
contest at its Wild West Fest from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 15 at Leo
Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, 6200 Flying LC Lane. The event has
free admission, but salsa tasting cards are $3 (and include a bowl
of house chili). Entries are due May 12; categories are Best
Overall, Presentation, Restaurant Salsa, Fruit Salsa, Hottest, Most
Unique and People's Choice. Go to www.carlsbadca.gov/parksandrec or
call 760-602-7519. The event also includes a Wild West show, "jail
and bail" activity, mechanical bull, pony rides, live music and
more; call 760-434-2843.

SDCC dinner:
The San Diego Center for Children
will hold its annual dinner May 20 at the US Grant Hotel in
downtown San Diego. The nonprofit agency helps children who have
had issues keep them from success. E-mail Jessica Johnson at
jjohnson@centerforchildren.org, go to centerforchildren.org or call
858-569-2148.

Tesoro Winery's "Girls Night Out!":
The
Temecula winery hosts a women's-only event with wine, appetizers,
shopping and a chocolate fountain from 7 to 10 p.m. May 20 at 28475
Old Town Front Street, Temecula. Tickets are $24 ($22 before May
15). Call 951-308-0000.

Brews & Blues Festival:
The Fallbrook
Animal Sanctuary and The Rotary Club of Bonsall co-host a music and
beer festival to benefit the sanctuary from 4 to 10 p.m. May 22 at
the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido
Blvd. Tickets are $60 each and $40 for designated drivers. To
assure donations are credited properly, visit bonsallrotary.com and
under "charity partners," select the Fallbrook Animal
Sanctuary.

RA fundraiser:
RA Sushi Bar Restaurant will
host its sixth annual "Nicky's Week" fundraiser from May 30 to June
5, benefiting the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. During
that week, RA will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from a
special "Nicky's Week" menu to the hospital. Go to rasushi.com or
call 619-321-0021.

Dick's hosts strawberry fest:
Dick's Sporting
Goods hosts the 2010 Strawberry Festival 5K & Kids Run from
6:30 to 10 a.m. May 30 at 101 Wave Drive in Vista. The event
includes a 5-kilometer race for adults, a 1-mile children's run,
and strawberry sales, vendor booths, art displays, a health and
fitness expo and more at the finish line. Cost to register is
$20-$30. Visit www.kinanevents.com.

Wine, cheese and chocolate:
The San Diego
Women's History Museum & Educational Center is hosting its
annual San Diego Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Festival from 6:30 to
10 p.m. June 4 in the Spanish Village at Balboa Park. Dozens of
chocolatiers, cheese and wine vendors will offer samples, and Sue
Palmer (the "queen of boogie woogie") will entertain. Tickets are
$25 in advance and $30 at the door, and VIP tickets, which include
reserved seating and drink vouchers, are $50; go to
www.womensmuseumsd.org or call 619-233-7963.

Encinitas Rotary Wine Festival:
Rotary Club of
Encinitas hosts its annual fundraising gala featuring international
wines, local microbrews and cuisine from 5 to 8 p.m. June 5 at San
Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. Tickets
are $85 (tickets are $100 after May 15). Visit
encinitaswinefestival.com.

Jazz brunches:
The Westgate Hotel in San Diego
will host jazz brunches on its Riviera Fountain Terrace from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays from June 20 to Sept. 5. The brunch is $49
per person; go to westgatehotel.com or call 619-557-3655.

Taste of Gaslamp:
The Gaslamp Quarter in San
Diego will host its 17th annual Taste of Gaslamp, presented by
Samuel Adams, from 1 to 4 p.m. June 26 and 27, on the streets of
the Gaslamp, with more than 25 venues participating. Restaurants
will show off house specialties in the form or 2- to 4-ounce
samples; guests also receive a "Taste of Gaslamp" recipe book, and
there's a beer garden for those ages 21 and older. Tickets are $30
per day and are available beginning in May at www.gaslamp.org.

Amaya wine dinner:
Amaya at The Grand Del Mar
resort will host its second annual four-course Mouton Noir Wine
Dinner at 5:30 p.m. July 16 for $70 per person. Courses include
sauteed turbot with an heirloom tomato broth, and veal New York
strip with crispy sweetbreads and sherry-braised collard greens. Go
to granddelmar.com or call 858-314-1988.

Cocktail hour:
The Lobby Lounge at The Grand
Del Mar will host "Mastering Mixology: Summer Sins and Saints," a
class on making chilled cocktails, at 4 p.m. Aug. 14 for $25 per
person. Cocktails include herb-infused and tropical fruit mojitos,
as well as non-alcoholic concoctions. Go to granddelmar.com or call
858-314-1988.

Mother's Day events

The Grand Del Mar:
The Capella hosts brunch
from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for $85 per adult and $30 per child ages
6 to 12. Brunch buffet includes lobster cocktail; tagliatelle with
grapefruit, proscuitto and goat cheese; baked halibut with savory
cabbage and peach beurre blanc; white chocolate creme brulee; and
more. Call 858-314-2000. Amaya will have brunch from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. The brunch is $38 per person and
includes items such as yogurt parfait, brioche French toast with
banana and chocolate-hazelnut sauce, rotisserie chicken breast with
potato puree and mushroom ragout, milk chocolate float and more.
For dinner, Amaya will have its regular menu, as well as a
three-course chef's tasting menu for $40 ($65 with wine pairings).
Call 858-314-2727. Last, from 2 to 4 p.m. May 7 to 9, there will be
afternoon tea and bubbly for $42. Moms receive a glass of
champagne, followed by tea service in The Library; call
858-314-1988.

Westgate Hotel:
Westgate Hotel in San Diego
will host a mother-daughter tea at 2:30 p.m. May 8 and a brunch
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 9. The champagne afternoon tea is $39
for adults and $26 for children; the brunch is $59 for adults and
$25 for children under 12. Go to westgatehotel.com.

Classes

Alchemy of the Hearth:
Offers cooking classes
at its new location, 960 Rancheros Drive, Suite L, San Marcos.
Classes at 4 p.m. are geared toward children and teens. Alchemy of
the Hearth is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Go to alchemyofthehearth.com or call
760-233-2433.

-- 10 a.m. May 1: Just for Kids Cooking Session (flavored yogurt
parfait with homemade granola, and fresh berry breakfast pizza with
robilina cheese, cherry honey and basil); $65 for one parent and
one child, $25 for an additional child (limit two per adult)

RB Classic Cooking:
Charles Heineke teaches
cooking classes in his commercial kitchen at 1291 Simpson Way,
Escondido. Go to www.rbclassiccooking.com or call 858-442-5252. RB
Classic Cooking has several monthly cooking clubs: a cooking co-op
at 9:30 a.m. the first Thursday and 6 p.m. the first Friday; an
international cooking club at 6:30 p.m. the third Saturday; a
singles cooking club at 7 p.m. the fourth Friday; and a kids
cooking club at 9 a.m. the second Saturday.

RB Classic Cooking also offers meal plans: light and healthy
meals are $75 for seven dinners and $185 for weekly meals (21
meals), delivered to your door twice weekly in 1,200-, 1,500- or
1,800-calorie counts. Family meal plans are $150 for four dinners,
with four servings each.

Acqua Al 2:
The Gaslamp Quarter restaurant
hosts wine tastings during "Uncorked" the first Wednesday of every
month at 322 Fifth Ave. in San Diego. For $20, guests taste four
wine/spirit selections paired with four appetizers. Reservations
are required; call 619-230-0382 or go to acquaal2.com.

The Collective:
Tasting lounge features
one-of-a-kind, handmade boutique wines at 28544 Front Street in Old
Town Temecula. Hours are 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays,
noon to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 10 p.m.
Sundays. Call 951-693-4567 or go to tvwinecollective.com.

ENO-Versity at the Hotel Del:
ENO, the wine,
cheese and chocolate tasting room at the Hotel del Coronado, has
announced its 2009 classes for ENO-Versity. Classes are $35 per
person and start at 4 p.m.; call 619-522-8546 or go to
hoteldel.com/ENO-wine. The Hotel Del is at 1500 Orange Ave. in
Coronado. ENO is also offering "Tasting Tuesdays" from 5 to 8 p.m.,
offering 10 wine samples for $10; "Say Cheese" Wednesdays from 5 to
10 p.m. with half-off cheese flights; "Bubbly Thursdays" from 5 to
10 p.m. with half-off sparkling wine by the glass or bottle; and $5
Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m. with $5 glasses of wine.

The North County Wine Company:
Tastings daily
at 1099 San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, plus special events from 10
a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays. Call
760-744-2119 or visit www.NorthCountyWineCompany.com.

Stone Brewery:
The Escondido brewery and
restaurant is hosting these events at 1999 Citracado Parkway in
Escondido. Call 760-471-4999 or go to www.stonebrew.com.

-- Monday: Beer U: Double IPAs

-- April 26: Women Only: Sour Beers

-- May 4: Fresh dinner

T&H Prime Meats & Sausage:
The shop now
offers tastings from 10 San Diego wineries from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursdays-Saturdays for $5, which includes four tastes and a San
Diego Vintners Association souvenir wine glass, at 735 E. Mission
Road, San Marcos. Call 760-471-9192.

Vine to Glass:
The Oceanside wine bar holds
tastings six days a week and has biweekly events for $10 to $15;
small-production boutique wines are available by the glass or
bottle. Beer tastings are $6; antipasto platters are $15. The bar
is open 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 1 to 9 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday; and 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Vine to Glass is at
210-A N. Coast Highway in Oceanside; call 760-757-2254 or go to
vinetoglass.com.

Vinz Wine Bar:
Full restaurant menu with wide
wine menu by the glass or bottle. Tastings are from $5-$10 from 5
to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and come with
charcuterie and cheese. Live music on Saturdays. Vinz is at 201 E.
Grand Ave., Escondido. Call 760-743-8466 or visit
vinzwinebar.net.

The Wine Spot:
Tastings at its new location,
2917 State St., Carlsbad. House tastings are offered any time; call
for the tasting of the week. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to
7 p.m. Sunday; call 760-434-9463 or visit the-wine-spot.com.

Wine Styles:
The Encinitas wine store hosts
tastings from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 1-6 p.m. Saturdays.
Cost is $15 or $10 for WineClub members and includes six to eight
wines and snacks. The shop also hosts WineDown Fridays, where
guests enjoy wine and live music and can bring in food to
socialize. Call 760-633-0057.